I hear Cracker Barrel sells a lovely rocking chair ;)

I know I have posted on GC over the years that I have never liked that practice, and have found problems with it both in a legal sense, and also in a lack of creativity sense. Many alumnae are very concerned about licensing and our own trademarks, but we kind of forget that we should practice it with our own activities.

If this is a real theme, and it really happens, I only pray it is done to the full extent possible, and these songs are featured:
Thong Song - Sisqo
Underneath Your Clothes - Shakira
(Under) Pants on the Ground - Larry Platt
No Panties - Trina & Tweet

This can all be blamed on my assistant, she cleared out my inbox since I came back to work only today, and I go back on vacation tomorrow.

I agree that there's a difference between Victoria's Secret and Hooters -- one uses breasts to sell wings, and the other uses breasts to sell underwear.

I'd like to see school-sanctioned activities for college women promoted without any reference to their sexy bodies.
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HairyVirginity

I agree. I think chapters get stuck in "everyone else is doing it" and "we got this idea from another chapter." And then they never think that it could be infringing.

At least the breasts are related to the underwear :p

I have more problems with the tackiness/lack of creativity/copyright infringement. But really it has to come from the girls themselves, not from the school or something. (Basically I don't know why school sanctioning has anything to do with it. Schools shouldn't sanction morality or even enforce positive body image. Encourage sure, enforce or prohibit, no.)

Thank you for reminding me it is wing night at the local microbrewery. I'm going to take a break from packing for wings and beer.

Drolefille is right, our younger sisters are the women driving these themes, and let's be honest, when we get out of our rocking chairs and leave the porch we have to realize that some of us are out of touch with what will work with today's college woman. I've always had a touch of the old lady, and will admit I have been confused when women are unaware of items such as slips, not showing straps, or appropriate foundation garments for underneath attire for initiation, badge wear, and for business. Now we have an appropriate theme for Victoria's Secret: racer back bras with racer back tank tops, slips & VPL, see through of sheer clothing, why polka dot panties don't work with light colors.

I think it is about my nap time, where's my cane?

I'm going to be a sophomore in college, and I agree that it seems vaguely inappropriate.

I realize it is probably too late for the theme to be changed, but I'm trying to wrap my mind around a Victoria's Secret theme and these items quoted below from the national websites. Some of the founders must be rolling over in their graves...

Kappa Delta Creed
May We, Sisters in Kappa Delta, strive each day to seek more earnestly the honorable and beautiful things. May We each day through love of those within our circle, Learn to know and understand better those without our circle. May the diamond shield that guards our love find us each day Truer, Wiser, More Faithful, More Loving, and More Noble.

Kappa Delta Open Motto
"Ta Kala Diokomen"
"Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful and highest."

The Symphony of Alpha Chi Omega

Sigma Kappa Purpose Statement

The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to provide women lifelong opportunities and support for social, intellectual, and spiritual development by bringing women together to positively impact our communities.

THE CREED OF PHI MU FRATERNITY
To lend to those less fortunate a helping hand.
To think of God as a protector and guide of us all.
To keep forever sacred the memory of those we have loved and lost.
To be to others what we would they would be to us.
To keep our lives gentle, merciful and just,
Thus being true to the womanhood of love.

To walk in the way of honor, guarding the purity of our thoughts and deeds.
Being steadfast in every duty small or large.
Believing that our given word is binding.
Striving to esteem the inner man above culture, wealth or pedigree.
Being honorable, courteous, tender,
Thus being true to the womanhood of honor.

To serve in the light of truth avoiding egotism, narrowness, and scorn.
To give freely of our sympathies.
To reverence God as our Maker, striving to serve Him in all things.
To minister to the needy and unfortunate.
To practice day by day love, honor, truth.
Thus keeping true to the meaning, spirit and reality of Phi Mu.

I do think there's a difference between using a pink (or other colored) dog and polka dots (the VS PINK branding) and showing bras and underwear.

Nothing inherently wrong with the former besides the copyright infringement.

I don't think my founders would be rolling at all.

I don't think this would be a tasteful theme even if this school didn't recognize its Panhellenic system. But IMHO, it's more troubling when the university is sponsoring and endorsing this particular set of messages to its freshman women. This isn't just students acting on their own, like an anime club that wants to watch misogynistic movies (which they are welcome to do at a public university). The university has a Greek Life office with staff devoted to the promotion and support of this club. That adds a layer of official authority to the actions of Panhellenic. It makes it just a little harder for freshmen to resist the message that being a young college woman is all about being sexy in your underwear.

That's absolutely true, and this theme may well work at bringing more women into the system. But so might free beer and hot guys at the rush parties. The sororities have adopted a very controlled recruitment system in part to ensure that women join for the right reasons and the recruitment process reflects the values of the organizations (which includes alumnae as well as actives).

Anyway. Hobbling away for the Early Bird special...
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Live Sex

While I think there's something problematic with it, I don't see using the PINK branding as promoting sexy underwear. Even more so because the PINK underwear is more "cute" than "sexy." But regardless universities shouldn't try to enforce something like watching misogynistic movies (something that's not a bigger problem in anime than in western culture so weird point) or sorority recruitment themes. There are times when colleges get involved, but this shouldn't be one of them.

And lingerie's in a tricky category of morally offensive to some, misogynistic to others, empowering to yet others, and just something cute to wear to many.

I'm not saying the college should get involved. I'm saying the sororities should choose not to market themselves this way. Clearly, they've already made a decision in the other direction, but I think it's a bad call.

If there's an NPC sorority out there that wants to be associated with lingerie, empowering or otherwise, let's hear from them.

I don't know of any college that has a western culture club. They all have anime clubs. That's why it's a good example of a college club that includes material some find objectionable.
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Laguna Bay II Condominium

I doubt any NPC sorority really wants to be associated with Sex and the City either, but that doesn't really make this unique among recruitment themes.

And it seemed like you were suggesting something about anime movies that was particularly misogynistic. Also, as we are IN western culture, many student clubs are western culture clubs. It's like the old "why's there a mother's day and a father's day but no children's day" thing.

I guess I am thinking that the Pink theme emphasizes one of the chapters too much, since Pink is one of the colors, "go pink", then everything is pink? Not sure I would love this if I was red, green or purple.

I'm also too old to think that a Victoria's Secret theme is appropriate, fun or great, but then I am sitting on that big ass porch, too. Drinkin' wine, but still....

Oh please. None of those say a darned thing like "Thou shalt not use cute plaid dogs and a certain kind of lettering for your recruitment materials."

Also, I've seen recruitment themes along the "fruit of the loom"/Hanes line before (one of them had a catch phrase and now I can't remember what it was). VS is no different. They're not copying the Body by Victoria or Angels lines, they specifically looking at a very college-branded line anyway.

If they want to buy shitty bras that fall apart, let them.

I really hate when people talk about founders rolling in the grave.

I really hate when people try to remind members of their GLO's motto or creed.

I think a VS theme is likely to be more "miss" than "hit" and my belief has nothing to do with dead founders or other GLOs' mottos and creeds.